There are a variety of ways for teachers to participate in a Professional Learning Network. One way for teachers to connect with other teachers is through Twitter. Teachers from all around the United States of America, and abroad, are participating in Twitter Chats to help improve the teaching community. Keep reading below to learn how beneficial a PLN is for teachers.
What is a PLN? To start off, the abbreviation, PLN stands for Professional Learning Network. A PLN could be found on many different websites that are available to the public. The first one that is commonly used for PLN is Twitter. Teachers from all around the United States as well as abroad are participating in "Twitter Chats". These chats are designed for teachers to connect and see what teacher are doing around the classroom. Teachers share what they are doing to reach their students effectively as well as what they are learning about in the world of education. This small website allows for teachers to connect and learn from each other. Why is a PLN important? There are a variety of reasons why it is important to have a PLN, yet I will only be mentioning a few on this page. To begin, it is important to connect with others who are in the same profession. When a teacher has been in the profession for a long time, it is common for a teacher to stay stuck in the routine and struggle learning from other teachers. It is extremely important to be continuously learning, and one way is to be learning from other teachers. Another reason why a PLN is important, is that it allows for you to grow personally as well as encourage. Each person's voice is heard in the twitter chat, and teachers can get encouragement from others about ideas and possible classroom changes that will be taking place. Teachers can encourage each other as well as push each other to be better in the field of education. Having the variety of connections is an amazing opportunity that is available through Twitter as well as other PLN outlets. How has a PLN helped me personally? I don't really know where to begin, but being connected on a PLN with other educators has been an amazing experience. I have been able to learn a variety of ways to ensure that I am keeping my students first over myself, ways to incorporate technology into the classroom, and ways to improve as a teacher. There has been such an amazing support group through the #KidsDeserveIt Twitter chat, that I always feel welcome even though I am only a Pre-service teacher. I really look forward to the #KidsDeserveIt Twitter chats on Wednesday and learning anything new that I can apply to my future classroom. Creating a PLN has also helped me to get out into the field of education and get my name out there. Following college, I will be looking for a job, and knowing that there are so many different opportunities available, getting my name out in the field could help me in the future. I love learning from all of the experienced teachers, and they look forward to my additions as a rising teacher. I can not speak enough about the positive experience that I have had with the Twitter PLN. To see my Twitter and what I am learning, feel free to check it out below! Plans for my future PLN Learning does not stop after I earn my undergraduate, or earn my masters. The field of education requires constant learning, and one way to do that is by continuously staying involved in my PLNs. In this small section, my plans for maintaining my PLN is mentioned to emphasize the importance of having a PLN. Following the Technologies of Instruction class that I am in, I plan on continuing to participate in Twitter chats. In addition to participating in #KidsDeserveIt on Wednesday nights, I plan on participating in a variety of other Twitter chats that I have seen and even some that I still have to discover. I plan on learning as much as I can about the field of education through the connections that I have on Twitter and keeping in touch with those connections especially while I am Student teaching next year. I also would like to find experienced teachers who are willing to hold me accountable and push me in the field of education. Being a Pre-service teacher can be extremely scary, yet having a teacher who can also act as a mentor can go a long way. Also, having the connections of teachers and the accountability, I can also encourage and help other teachers that are helping me improve as a student. Why is PLN under Domain 4D? When working in an educational community, it is extremely important to be participating in a professional community to improve your knowledge as well as your teaching techniques. The theme of Domain 4D is to have teachers push themselves and connect with others in the profession. The specific element that PLNs work with when referring to Danielson's Domain 4D would be Involvement in a Professional Inquiry. On the majority of the Twitter Chats, teachers are welcomed and wanted by the community. New ideas and suggestions are welcomed and treasured. Therefore, PLN fits perfectly under Daneilson's Domain 4D. Below is my Professional Twitter and Pinterest!